The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-04-23

more highly favored than another, or at
least / could not, for when she began to
suspect what my intentions were Il did not
try to conceal my love, though dared not
hope IL would ever be requitcd) she became
very reserved with me, which I, wisely or
not, supposed was intended on her part to
give your humble servant to understand
that she was not for him at least.
But with this exception, she showed no
Partially for one more than another. This
was tantalizing, TO say the least. If she
went 10 ride with Smithers one day, she
was sure to ride with Brown the next. If
sho went to lecture with White, sho would
go to concert with Green, Black, or Gray.
"Shes coquette," said Smithers.
81 think not" said Brown. 'She hasn't
given single gentleman In Larragona any
reason to suppose that she Is, or can be,
any thing more than friend to him. Is 1t
her fault that you are oil so madlv in love
with herl We buzz around her like a
swarm Of bees. We can't keep away. Now
what would you have her do, forbid every
gentleman except yourself to enter the
house!"
"No, but she might show her prsIer-
ence," answered Smithers.
eyes, II she has any"
"Wcll, Of course she has"
"You think So"
This conversation, which took place ib
my store one afternoon about six weeke
after Miss Budderfli's return home, might
have taken very unpleasant turn at this
point but for the entrance of a couple Of
ladies' One was Lawyer Dunready's wife,
and the other was stranger to us all.
Ihastened to wait upon Mrs. Dunready,
while the strange lady stopped ut the show
| case at the further end Of tho counter.
| am quite intimate with the Dunreadys-1
stood godfather to their only son, a late ar
| rival in Larragona-nnd am pretty well ac-
quainted with all their ''rclations and
| friends;" but here was one that had never
| seen before. Leaning over cut OF sheeting
| which Mrs. Dunready was examining,
whispered my question POLITICALLY, thus:-
Who is the maid with golden hair,
| With eyes OF fire and foot OF airy
"Pshaw! Leda wears a number six boot,
and her eyes aresa sky blue" answered
Mrs. Dunready. "She is widow, and my
cousin, Mrs. Vastings. She was married
eight years ago and went to Chicago. Has
just returned to the East, and 1 hope she
will remain. Shall introduce youl"
| "By all means"
The lady swept along toward us. She
| was really a magnihcent-looking woman.
| She smiled graciOusly upon me when the
introduction was made, and every body
knows what widows smile is. A pretty
maiden's is like sunshine, but widows is
sunshine after rain-perfectly glorious
She was Of blonde complexion, with the
most wonderful golden hair; and more
wonderful still it was all her own, not even
excepting the color. Then she had a voice
low and soft as doves, and the most ex.
| quisite nose! Lips 'like thread of scar.
i Lot, bod Lot, lat x1,1,,n nl<
they were beautiful, but who made them
sol never knew the dentists name.
At last Mrs. Dunready, having completed
her purchases, turned to Co.
"Why haven't you called upon us, Mr.
Jonjonesr' she asked; and the widows
eyes said, ''why don't you!"
'Ive been thinking Of it for some time, y
returned.
'Is it subject that requires great dea
of thought" inquired the widow, with d
witching little smile playing around the
corners Of those scarlet lips.
mo, not now"
"You will come up this evening, per
hapsr said Mrs. Dunready.
"Yes."
The ladies bowed and withdrew.
And SO that evening spent at Mrs. Dun
ready's. But on my way there was obliged
to pass Mr.uBudderfli's and there on the
piazza was Medora and her friends, Miss
Pinman and Miss Clintoe, surrounded by
Brown, Smithers and Black. touched my
hat to the ladies and passed on, and thought
that Medora must have experienced a sense
of relief that ono of her admirers had with
drawn, for one evening at least.
l found Dunready and the ladies as
sembled on the lawn in front of the house
| engaged in game of crOQuet
"Ah, Jonjones," cried Dunready, "yOl
are just in season to commence the game
with u.s."
"Leda was just wishing you would come,
said his wife, with mischievous smile a
her fair friend.
The widow blushed as much as it was pos
sible for widow to, and looked down
knowing perhaps that her eyclashes were
quite long and really worth showing
"'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark
Our coming and look brighter when we come,
quoted, jestingly.
II am glad that you think such knowl
edge is sweet. ! shall begin to have hopes
of you, notwithstanding l have hitherto
considered you such an incorriglble ole
bachelor" said Mrs. Dunready, driving
her ball through the first wicket
Old bachelor! How could she be so crue
to me when handsome widow stood with
in the sound OF her voice. l was certain
that looked much younger, but that ex
preston would carry the idea that wa!
much older than I really was. have al
ways been very reticent upon tho subjec
of my age, and as am not u native of Lar
ragona; in fact, had only been a residen
there about ten years at that time, there
fore no one knew how long had been al
inhabtant of this terrestrial sphere, and
was certainly not only young looking man
hut rather good-looking, too, If do say it
But had secret that. if known, woult
have materially affected the general i'm
preston regarding the number of year
that had circled over my head, and conse
quently whenever the slightest allusiol
was made to my age trembled and turne'
pale. did not color my hair; oh, no, ther
isn't a silvered thread to be found in it. M,
hair is my "crowning glory" All the "a
dies pronounce it bcautiful l fancy th'
widow admired it,
"By the way, Mr.. Jonjones, suppose yo
have heard that the ladies are to hold fai
here in about fortnightP
"Yes; l was called upon to contribut
some time ago" "croqueting Dunrcady's bal
"Well, we are to have tableaux, and
, want you to take a part"
"Me! Why, never appeared before tn